Author's Note: I do not own KH BBS or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.

Ch.19 A Challenge

"And that!" I called, finishing off another Yellow Mustard. Beside me Ven used Blitz and killed a trio of Floods that were the last of the Unversed. I stopped and wiped the sweat off my brow; the Unversed here in Neverland were stronger than any I had yet to encounter. But it wasn't just that- I was partially jealous of Ventus. I had taken the exact combination of commands he had told me- Wind Raid and Curaga- and tried to meld them together to make my own Salvation technique. But no matter how hard or how many times I tried I could not get them to combine.

"Why will Wind Raid and Curaga combine only for you?" I asked him. Ven shrugged. "I guess only I can use it. Just like how only Aqua could use Magic Hour," he suggested. I nodded; that made sense, even if I didn't like. "Alright, enough with that. How close are we to the Indian Camp?" I asked. He was silent for a moment, looking at our map before saying "We're pretty close, jump one more pack of Unversed and we should be there." I groaned and turned my neck, feeling the bones crick. "Okay, let's do this," I said.

Without another word we both charged forward, and the before-mentioned back of Unversed appeared. There were five Blue Sea Salts, three Triple Wreckers, and six Scrappers. I grunted and cast Tornado, catching all of them in the twister and tossing them around. While they were still in the air Ven used Salvation, devastating them with columns of light. The combined assault destroyed four Scrappers and three Sea Salts, the other two being taken care of by my Wind Raid.

Now all that faced us were two Scrappers and three Wreckers. Each of the Wreckers had a different head in the center, so each one was a different element. One hopped forward and breathed fire at us, forcing us both to roll out of the way. I glared at it and cast Triple Blizzaga, cutting it thrice with shot of ice. Another one, this one with blue in the center, was sent staggering back by Ven's Fission Firaga. Meanwhile the last one's body crackled with electricity and it began hopping around, trying to hit and zap us.

We didn't let it, and instead Ven blasted it with Mine Shield while I slid away, waiting for the precise moment until all three of the Wreckers were in a straight line. Unfortunately that didn't happen, fortunately one Wrecker lined up with both Scrappers. I smiled and used Zantetsuken, pausing for a second before I unleashed a single blindingly fast strike to all three of them. The move destroyed both Scrappers but not the Wrecker, who Ven finished off Treasure Raid.

For a second neither of us moved, breathing heavily from the exertion. It was only when we dismissed our Keyblades. "You guys okay?" I asked, looking over at the hiding forms of Slightly and Cubby. Slowly they emerged, and Slightly said "Yeah, we're okay." I was about say that was fine when we heard a crowing from above. All four of us looked up, and Slightly and Cubby both said "Peter Pan!" Peter turned out to be a boy, about the same age as me, dressed in a green shirt, tights, and a hat with a red feather and orange hair. Pixie dust twinkled around him as he flew- wait a minute. Flew?

I blinked, trying to see if I was hallucinating, but I wasn't. This guy was actually flying. He did so around me and Ven, scanning us with a critical eye. "Who do we have here? Never seen you two before," Peter said. "I'm Ventus. Call me Ven," Ven said, while I told him "Dexal, please to meet you." Pan lowered and landed on the ground, saying "Well... if you say so." He turned toward Slightly and Cubby and walked forward, saying "Ten-shun!" They both straightened and saluted him, and he said "Now then, men. I suppose you don't wanna capture some real pirate treasure?"

"Real treasure?!" they both asked excitedly. "Well, guess who caught sight of Captain Hook just as he was stashing his treasure? What do you say be sneak in and grab it?" Peter suggested. They both said "Sure!" but then to my amusement Tinker Bell flew over and kicked them both on the side of the heads. They both said "Ow!" and Tink flew over in front of Pan, stomping her foot angrily. "Tinker Bell, what's gotten into you?" he asked. She flew over to us, and Ven said "We were supposed to look for a shooting star together."

"Forget that. Pirate treasure is way more fun. Tink, you're comin' with us," Peter said. She shook her head and crossed her arms, flying away. "Well that's no way to respond to an invitation. Come on Ven, Dexal, you're better sports than her, right?" he asked. "We'd love to, but first we're gonna take a look at that shooting star," I said. He looked at us in surprise and we walked away. After that the Unversed gave us little trouble, and we were able to make it to the Indian Camp in record time. But what was there wasn't a shooting star.

Instead what was lying on the ground in the middle of the camp was a blue star-shaped object, glowing faintly with a white light. "Mickey's Star Shard?" Ven asked, and I looked at him. "Who's Mickey?" I asked, and he replied "A friend of mine. This belongs to him." Tinker Bell flew forward and was about to grab it, but then suddenly a pirate with a hooked hand and a huge feathered hat grabbed her. Laughing, he also picked up the Star Shard. "A shooting star and a pixie? Must be me birthday!" he said, smiling.

"Hey!" I yelled, both of us running forward and Ven calling "Let Tinker Bell go!" He chortled. "A pair of Peter Pan's brats. Well tell that cowardly sparrow, if he wants his precious Tinker Bell back he'd best meet me at Mermaid Lagoon." Before either of us could do anything he and his sidekick ran off. "Stop!" Ven called, but just as we began running yet another pack of Unversed showed up. "Out of our way!" I yelled, summoning Ultimatum. A Floods tried to claw at me, and I blocked before using Counter Blast, sending shards of my barrier flying and destroying it.

Ven was still for second before calling "Light!" and using Salvation. The move sent all the Unversed flying, and I followed it up with Wind Raid. Ultimatum hit one Yellow Mustard and flew from it to another, smashing into several Unversed before it returned to my hand. The move left all the Mustards stunned, and that gave Ven the perfect opportunity to unleash Fission Firaga. The ball hit one Unversed and exploded, catching and incinerating them in the blast.

"Nice going," I said, firing Triple Blizzaga at Wild Bruiser. "Thank," he replied, taking it down with Blitz. But more and more appeared, and I was starting to get worried. "There's too many! What do we do?" Ven asked, his back against mine. I slashed a Scrapper clean in half before saying "What Shotlock do you have on?" He frowned and said "Pulse Bomb. Why?" I smiled. "That's the same one as me." Ven smiled back in understanding, at we both focused for a second before unleashing a Double Pulse Bomb. The explosions were twice the regular size, and double in number.

The move blasted away the Unversed until they were just a handful left, which I dispatched with a quick Tornado. "Quickly!" I called, running out of the Indian Camp. Ven nodded and followed. More Unversed appeared to impede our progress, and we cut them down without mercy. But the deed was done, and by the time we got to the Gully Hook was gone. Ven grunted angrily and said "We lost them!" I nodded in agreement, but then suddenly we both saw a cloud of pixie dust from a tree, and a memory flashed before us.

It was the four of us, sitting that night before the exam under the stars. "You ever wonder what stars are? Where light comes from?" Ven asked. Then it was Aqua laughing while we looked at each other in confusion, and soon the three of us joined in.

I sighed from the memory and looked at Ven. "That was a nice night, wasn't it?" I asked, and he nodded. "Look out below!" we heard Peter's voice yell, and it's owner flew down to us. "Peter, help! Tinker Bell's been pixie-napped!" Ven said. "Then I'm too late! Hook's gonna pay for this!" he said. "He said that to get her back you would have to meet him at Mermaid Lagoon," I told him. He huffed angrily. "Gotta be a trap! That old codfish thinks he's clever!"

He began to fly off, and I called "Hey! Let us up!" He stopped and looked back at us. "Alright, but you'll have to hurry. Think you can keep up?" he asked, smiling. "You bet!" Ven said, and I nodded. We both followed him to Mermaid Lagoon, but once we did I could see a ship in the distance, and I could almost hear Smee call "Peter Pan ahoy! Man the Long Tom, and... Fire!" There was a distant boom, and Ven said "Cannon fire! Where's it coming from?" Peter landed just as a blast hit the ground in front of all three of us, knocking us off-balance.

"Over there!" Peter called, pointing at the ship. Another blast exploded, and through the smoke the shape of Tinker Bell emerged. "Tink! You're okay!" Pan said happily. She flew up to him and started talking. "What? A strange fella with a funny-looking sword has-" he started, but then the ground shook with another explosion. "I gotta stop that cannon!" he called, and Ven said "Alright, we'll go after Hook!" He nodded, before saying "Right. Tink, if you would."

Tinker Bell went over to us and flew around in circles, pixie dust falling to the land on us. Abruptly my feet lifted from the ground, and I yelled "What the-? Hey!" "Wow... what..." Ven said in awe. "It's pixie dust! Bet you feel light now, don't ya?" he asked, and Ven nodded. With a great mental force I landed on the ground, and said "I think I'll keep my feet to the ground, thank you." He just shrugged before flying in the direction of the ship, while I looked at Ventus. "Come on, let's go get Hook," I said, and he nodded. Together, we headed for the cove.

xxx

And I'm back! Sorry for the late update, I went camping for a few days and had no access to my computer. ( ._ .)... Either way, here you go, and the battle against Hook coming up next!

Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)